Joseph Richard Caldwell Jr. (1896-1918)

Joseph Richard Caldwell was the son of an Irish immigrant, Joseph Cardwell, and Nancy Graham Brown Cardwell. The Caldwells had a large family, with at least six children. The other children include Anna Jean Caldwell Disque, William Graham “Pete” Caldwell, John Blair Caldwell, Robert Brown Caldwell, and David Blair Caldwell. Joseph Caldwell was the third child, born on May 18, 1896 in Wilkinsburg.
By the time of the 1900 Census, the Caldwells had moved to 335 S. Linden Street in Pittsburgh. Joseph Caldwell Sr. supported his family by working as a wholesale merchant in the dry goods business.
Joseph Caldwell Jr. graduated from Peabody in June 1916. That year, the graduation exercises included a program honoring Shakepeare’s tercentenary.
Caldwell’s World War I Draft Registration Card describes him as tall with a medium build, with dark hair and blue eyes. On Apr. 4, 1918, he joined up with the First Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, 67th (D) Company, as a private first-class. Over the next few months, they were subjected to a seemingly unending barrage of engagements with the enemy.
Caldwell suffered foot and shoulder injuries during the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. During this month-long battle, allied forces fought back against the German spring offensive near the Marne River in France.
After recovering, he returned to the front lines and subsequently saw action at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry on July 18, 1918; the Battles of the Meuse–Argonne, which began on September 26; and the Battle of Mt. Blanc Ridge near Reims, which took place between October 3 and 10.
Joseph Richard Caldwell Jr. was killed in action at Mount Blanc during the Battle for Saint-Etienne on Oct. 4, 1918. Upon hearing the news, his family held a memorial service at the Point Breeze Presbyterian Church on Dec. 22. Caldwell was finally interred at Homewood Cemetery after his remains were returned for burial in Sept. 1921.